Kathleen Burkinshaw has been presenting her mother’s August 6th experience in Hiroshima to Middle School History and Language Arts classes for the past six years. During this time she completed her MG Historical Fiction novel, THE LAST CHERRY BLOSSOM (Sky Pony Press, August 2016).

Ms. Burkinshaw’s presentation includes reading a section from THE LAST CHERRY BLOSSOM describing her mother’s experience on August 6th, as well as a portrayal of what life was like during the war in Japan. Power point slides of her mother’s personal photos, explanation of impact in Hiroshima from the atomic bomb on August 6th, and photos recently taken when she and her family visited Hiroshima last year are shown. She also discusses the damage nuclear weapons did in 1945 compared to what some are capable of now. The presentation concludes with a Q & A session.

“As Mrs. Burkinshaw was telling the story, I felt like I was there on the day of the bombing. The details of the destruction and loss really put me into their perspective. The facts that she told at the end were really interesting. I didn’t know that the bomb was equal to 15,000 tons of TNT. I can’t wait for the book!”

– Jack B. 7th Grade

“I’m so glad Mrs. Burkinshaw could come and talk to us. Her story was amazing and it makes me want to read the book. I could not even imagine what her mom went through. IT kept me on the edge of my seat with the description she used.“

– Allie D. 7th Grade

“Mrs. Burkinshaw’s presentation was very interesting. She talked about her mother’s experience during the Hiroshima bomb, read parts of her book, and showed us pictures of her mother, her mother’s family, and pictures of the Hiroshima Peace Museum. It was amazing to think that there was 15,000 tons of TNT in the bomb. It was very fascinating to hear her mother’s story.

Thank you so much for coming and sharing your mother’s incredible story! I was taken aback by how much destruction and loss happened in one day. I was inspired by the courage and strength your mother had. We could read about this all day in textbooks, but to hear the story told from your mother’s perspective makes the story real and even more heartbreaking.”

“We are so lucky to have you come and speak to our kids every year. Your mother’s story is incredible and your passion for telling it makes it truly powerful. You are such an engaging speaker! I loved hearing the excerpts from the book. I can already envision using it to teach how to show, not tell…..What a beautiful story.”

“What a delight it is to welcome Kathleen Burkinshaw to our school. Our students learn the facts of WWII and Hiroshima in their classes; yet Ms. Burkinshaw’s presentation gives them the opportunity to truly hear the human voice behind these tragic events. Ms. Burnkinshaw honors her mother through the healing medium of storytelling, sharing the experiences of a twelve-year old girl whose life changed so swiftly and incomprehensibly one day in 1945. Students are highly engaged in Ms. Burkinshaw’s gentle and poignant presentation, relating readily to her stories and gaining both a sense of the destructive force of nuclear weaponry as well as the truly courageous fortitude of a previous generation.”